Page 6 of Rowdy and Willing

“Still thinking of Cassie, I see,” I point out.

“Can’t stop thinking of her.”

He recently gotten married to a new girl in town. I haven’t seen him much outside work because of it. More power to him, I’ve never seen him happier, and the melancholy of being single was hitting him especially hard.

“So when are you getting hitched, Will? I heard Windy’s come back to town.”

I grimace. “Yeah, she’s back. She’s the person I’m working on this project with.”

More laughter. “Then maybe marriage isn’t too far out for you after all.”

“It isn’t like that between Windy and me, Cash. We’re best friends. And we intend to stay that way.”

“With the way you two look at one another? Hard to believe, little brother.”

“You don’t know what goes on between us. We’re strictly platonic, and we’re going into this as business partners.”

Cash sips his coffee. “Tell yourself whatever you want. I’m just going to say that Cassie has brought new joy to my life that I never thought possible. We connect on so many levels that I consider her my best friend on top of my lover and my wife.”

I shake my head, scowling. “You think you’d still be best friends if your romantic relationship went south? If it all fell apart?”

“I can’t imagine that ever happening. I love her too much and imagining us not being together is like imagining... I don’t know, the sun turning purple. Just an absolute impossibility.”

I can’t imagine life without Windy. I fear things turning nasty between us. Having it all and then losing her, spitting venom at each other. It’s a scene that just can’t happen. I can imagine someone like Windy screaming at me about how horrible I am, but not her. Not unless she was acting or something. No. Her hating me just isn’t something that could happen. I can’t let it happen.

We keep talking as I serve breakfast. Mostly about bullshit, how the Seahawks are doing, the oncoming heatwave, that new prestige drama Cassie and Cash are watching together.

“Gotta go, Will. Cattle aren’t gonna drive themselves.”

“Alright. Call me if something breaks down since I won’t be on the farm today.”

“Will do. Take care, and tell Windy I said hi. Also tell her you love her and can’t imagine life without her.”

I glare at him. Cash just laughs as he goes through the door.

I almost don’t want to get together with Windy now just to prove my brother wrong, instead of just worrying about ruining our friendship.

Phone in hand, I type out a text message to her, scheduling our get-together time. She wants to start a bit later, which I’m fine with. More time to tinker and get things ready.

I can’t help feeling a bit disappointed that it’ll be a little longer without her, though.

Damn, I really need to get myself together.

Maybe I should let some steam off before I explode?

I contemplate going back into the shower and spending more time with myself, but I figure it didn’t really do much to cut off my desires the first time. If anything, it just made them stronger.

If only there were a middle ground between friends and lovers. Maybe there is, actually.

Can I be with Windy without declaring my love for her?

4

WINDY

Being back in Burly has meant catching up on all of my old favorites. Golden Dragon Chinese is one of those favorites, and I decide to head there for lunch, even though it means a short trip over to Home.

I don’t know what it is about that place. Something the owners do there is special. Sure, I could get more authentic cuisine in Seattle, but sometimes you don’t want authentic. You want comfort food, made in that uniquely inauthentic way. Working-class American Chinese food.

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